Shopping

Dara Market is the place to go for silver items and textiles. Silk and cotton sinhs are available; silver jewelry and other items are sold by weight, and often purchased by Hmong hilltribes as portable wealth. Larger hotels-the Phou Vao, Phousi, and Villa Santi-have higher-priced gift shops.Strung out along Thanon Phothisarat are a number of souvenir shops. There are a few specialty shops-between Data Market and the Vieng Keo Hotel is a shop that sells high-quality textiles and handicrafts; down by the Mekong, near Villa Santi, is a silversmithing shop with items made on the premises. Opposite War Mai is a woodcarving place.
Banking: Lane Xang Bank is right near Luang Prabang Tourism. Rates are higher for cash than for traveler's checks, and not as good as rates in Vientiane for traveler's checks.